Multi-purpose garment convertible to a tote bag

Abstract

A system for use in a tote bag mode and a garment mode has a body of fabric having a first longitudinal side having a first sleeve formed along an outer edge and a parallel second longitudinal side having a second sleeve formed along an outer edge. A first drawstring operates in the first sleeve and a second drawstring operates in the second sleeve. In the tote bag mode, the entire lengths of the first and second longitudinal sides are cinched together along the drawstrings, such that the body forms a pouch extending between the first cinched longitudinal side and the second cinched longitudinal side. In the garment mode, the entire length of at least one of the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side is extended uncinched along its length, the system configured to selectably form any one of a plurality of garments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for use in a tote bag mode and a garment mode, the system comprising:
 a body of fabric having a first longitudinal side having a first sleeve formed along an outer edge and a parallel second longitudinal side having a second sleeve formed along an outer edge, and opposing lateral edges;   a first drawstring in the first sleeve operable along at least a portion of a length of the first longitudinal side; and   a second drawstring in the second sleeve operable along at least a portion of a length of the second longitudinal side, wherein, in the tote bag mode:
 the entire length of the first longitudinal side is cinched together along the first drawstring; and 
 the entire length of the second longitudinal side is cinched together along the second drawstring, such that the body forms a pouch extending between the first cinched longitudinal side and the second cinched longitudinal side, with at least one of the first drawstring and the second drawstring forming a strap for holding the pouch; and 
   wherein, in the garment mode:
 the length of each of the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side is selectably adjustable along a respective drawstring, the system configured to selectably form any one of a plurality of garments. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in the garment mode, one of the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side is fully extended along its length and the other of the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side is partially cinched, exposing both ends of a respective drawstring, an amount of cinching selected based on a wearer's size, both ends tied together to form some of the plurality of garments with the lateral edges of the body being substantially extended along a length of each lateral edge. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the respective drawstring of the one of the first longitudinal side or the second longitudinal side that is extended uncinched along its length provides weight to a hem of each of the some of the plurality of garments to improve draping of each garment. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of garments include a skirt with the partially cinched longitudinal side wrapped around and tied at a wearer's waist, a cape with the partially cinched longitudinal side wrapped around and tied at the wearer's neck and a top with the partially cinched longitudinal side wrapped under the wearer's armed and tied at the wearer's bust or back. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in the garment mode, the entire length of each of the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side is extended uncinched along its length. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein two opposing longitudinal corners of the body are tied together to form some of the plurality of garments, an amount of the body used for the tie selected based on a wearer's size and desired garment length. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the some of the plurality of garments includes a skirt to be wrapped around and tied at the wearer's waist, a cape to be wrapped around and tied at the wearer's neck and a top to be wrapped under the wearer's arms and tied at the wearer's bust or back. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the body is gathered at each lateral edge, such gathering extending along a length of the body to form some of the plurality of garments. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein one of the plurality of garments is a cover-up for a bathing suit bottom with the gathered body wrapped around a wearer's bottom and the gathered lateral edges tied together at the wearer's hips. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein one of the plurality of garments is a shawl with the gathered body wrapped around a wearer's shoulders and the lateral edges tied together at the wearer's bust. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the body is folded at least once along a longitudinal axis to reduce a length of each of the lateral edges, the folded body gathered at the lateral edges, leaving a folded midsection of the body to form some of the plurality of garments. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein one of the plurality of garments is a scarf that is wrapped around a wearer's head or around the wearer's neck. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of garments includes a shawl with the folded midsection around a wearer's shoulders and the lateral edges tied together at the wearer's bust and a bandana with the folded midsection around the wearer's head and the lateral edges tied together or tucked between the folded midsection and the wearer's head. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in the garment mode, the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side are variably cinched along a respective drawstring, an amount of cinching selected based on a wearer's size and desired coverage, both ends tied together to form some of the plurality of garments. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein one of the plurality of garments is a halter top with the first longitudinal side placed at a wearer's neck with the respective drawstring brought around and tied at a back of the wearer's neck, with the second longitudinal side wrapped around the wearer's waist or hips with the respective drawstring tied at the wearer's back. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first drawstring extends along the entire length of the first longitudinal side and the second drawstring extends along the entire length of the second longitudinal side, and wherein, in the tote bag mode, the first cinched longitudinal side is cinched proximate a longitudinal center of the first drawstring and the second cinched longitudinal side is cinched proximate a longitudinal center of the second drawstring. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein both ends of the first drawstring and both ends of the second drawstring are tied together to form the strap. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first drawstring and the second drawstring includes an ornament at each end sized to prevent the end from entering a respective sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . A system for use as a tote bag and as an adjustable size, multi-purpose garment, the system comprising:
 a body of fabric having a first longitudinal side having a first sleeve formed along an outer edge and a parallel second longitudinal side having a second sleeve formed along an outer edge, and opposing lateral edges;   a first adjustment member positioned in the first sleeve operable to adjust a length of the first longitudinal side; and   a second adjustment member positioned in the second sleeve operable to adjust a length of the second longitudinal side, wherein, when used as the tote bag:
 the length of the first longitudinal side is reduced with the first adjustment member; and 
 the length of the second longitudinal side is reduced with the second adjustment member, such that the body forms a pouch extending between the reduced first longitudinal side and the reduced second longitudinal side, with at least one of the first adjustment member and the second adjustment member forming a strap for holding the pouch; and 
   wherein, when worn as the adjustable size, multipurpose garment:
 the length of each of the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side is selectively adjustable along the length by a wearer to fit around a portion of a body of the wearer, depending on a selected garment. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the selected garment is one of a skirt, a top, a cape, a shawl and a scarf.